Implement handle

ABSTRACT

A handle for hand-held implements having a coating of synthetic material on a core member. The coating material may have reinforcing fibers or woven fabric, or both, worked into it in any shape which can be produced and in any desired or defined direction and position.

United States Patent 1191 81/177 G, 177M; 16/110 R, 138.8 B;

position. 294/57 Kneissl 1 Jan. 23, 1973 1541 IMPLEMENT HANDLE [56] References Cited Inventor: Franz Kneissl, Kufstein, Austria U E STATES PATENTS 2,837,381 6/1958 Sarlandt ..145/61 R X Assisneer Franz Kneissl Skifabrik, 2,941,294 6/1960 Vosbikian et a1. ....l45/61 R x stein/Throl, Austria 3,173,462 3/1965 Koeppel ..145/61 C I 3,613,753 10/1971 Wolf ..145/61 R 1,979,460 11/1934 Forsberg .145/61.12 [22] Sept 1970 2,127,163 8/1938 Davis ..40/19 [21] Appl. No.: 73,854 2,176,698 1011939 A1brecht ..4o/19 2,651,878 9/1953 Webbeking... 16/110 R 3,042,548 7/1962 Aikens ..117/l13 3,190,767 6/1965 Tomany et a1 ..117/148 X [30] Foreign Application Priority Data v i Primary Examiner-Edward G. Whitby Sept. '19, 1969 Austria ..A 8903/69 nttorneyfspencer & y

[521 US. C1. ..294/57, 16 R, 81/177 G, 1571 ABSTRACT /1 117/132 117/138-8 A handle for hand-held implements having a coating 1 117/1612 /61 C, 1 5/ J of synthetic material on a core member. The coating [51] Int. Cl. ..A011 1/22 material may have reinforcing'fibers or woven fabric, [58] Field of Search....' ..145/61 C, 61 J, 61 R; or both, worked into it in any shape which can be produced and in any desired or defined direction and 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAH23 197s 3,712,659

mvzsmoza Franz Kneissl By www#%e- ATTOR NEYS.

IMPLEMENT HANDLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a handle for handheld tools, such as hoes, pick axes, picaroons, hammers, shovels, etc., and for sport implements, such as ice axes, handles for paddles, etc.

It is known to construct handles for such implements from wood and occasionally of some other material, such as a metal.

Handles are also known which are provided with an insulating or impact-cushioning hand portion constructed of rubber of some other known material.

These known handles have many disadvantages, such as that exposure to weather, slight overstresses, and wear or the like which all contribute to a relatively short lifetime for the handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An improved handle is provided according to the present invention which is constructed ofa core having a coating of asynthetic material. The core of the handle consists of any type of known wood or ofa solid or hollow body constructed from a synthetic material or a metal. The coating is permanently connected to the core and preferably consists of an epoxy resin. Reinforcing fibers or woven fabric, or both, may be workedinto the coating material in any shape which can be produced and in any desired or defined direction and position.

The coatingmay be of one or a plurality of colors, which colors may be luminescent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation view of an ice axe which may use a handle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale and taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION oETHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. I shows a handle according to the present in-' vention which is being used with, for example, an ice axe. FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the handle taken generally along the line 2 2 of FIG. I. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the handle according to the present invention consists of an inner core a and an outer coating b.

The inner core a may be constructed in a known manner from any'suitable, known type of a wood, or from a solid or hollow synthetic material or'a metal. It is possible according to the present invention to construct a handle which is of lighter weight than possible with the construction of previous handles, particularly when a hollow synthetic or metal core is used. This type of construction makes it possible to exert a stronger vital force when using the implement.

The outer coating b of the handle is preferably an epoxy resin. Any suitable, known epoxy resin may be used for this purpose and may be applied to the core in any suitable manner so as to set after having been applied. In addition, reinforcing fibers or woven fabrics, or both, may, in a known manner, be worked into the coating material in any shape which can be produced and in any desired and/or defined direction and position. The coating preferably covers the entire surface,

including the ends, of the core.

he rigidity of a handle produced according to the damaged, by, for example, ice water, since epoxy resins, in particular, exhibit great resistance to wear in such environments.

Moreover, handles covered according to the present invention are comfortable to hold in'the hand. They may, for example, be shaped to enhance this feature.

Another feature of the present invention is that the handles may be easily and permanently colored. This feature minimizes annoying mixups and makes the implements easier to locate when lost or used as markers. In addition, they can even be produced in camouflage colors for military purposes. If desired, the coloring of the handles can be luminescent.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended-to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

I. A handle for manual work tools, sports implements or the like which have an eye for the reception of a portion ofa handle, consisting of;

a. a relatively long, narrow and hollow core member made of a material selected from a group consisting of wood, plastic and metal, and said core member having oppositely directed end portions along the longitudinal axis thereof; and

b. an epoxy resin coating disposed along the entire length said member and over said end portions for completely encasing said core member and in per- 

1. A handle for manual work tools, sports implements or the like which have an eye for the reception of a portion of a handle, consisting of: a. a relatively long, narrow and hollow core member made of a material selected from a group consisting of wood, plastic and metal, and said core member having oppositely directed end portions along the longitudinal axis thereof; and b. an epoxy resin coating disposed along the entire length said member and over said end portions for completely encasing said core member and in permanent connection therewith, said coating including reinforcing fabrics or fibers which are worked into the epoxy resin, whereby that portion of the handle received in an eye of a tool engages the tool only at the surface of said epoxy resin coating. 